Probe order as 28 girls quit school

More than 25 girls have dropped out of a primary school in Kinango District after falling pregnant.

The 28 girls are between 11 and 15 years old.

Kinango District Commissioner Apollo Okello on Tuesday said he had ordered the Virungani area chief to arrest the men responsible.

He said cases of early pregnancy were on the increase due to poverty as school girls were easily lured with money.

“School enrolment, especially between classes five and eight, has been greatly affected by early pregnancies and we shall arrest parents who protect men who impregnate young girls,” said the DC.

Area MP Gonzi Rai urged local administrators to work closely with the public to curb the evil.

“Leaders must ensure those who impregnate young girls face the law,” said Mr Rai.

At Kinango district hospital, doctors complained of increasing cases.

The officer-in-charge of the maternity wing, Ms Asiya Salima said half the pregnancy cases at the hospital are school girls below 15.

Ms Salima said they sometimes accommodate girls who visit prenatal clinic.

“We cannot not risk allowing all girls who are about to deliver to go back home because, for some, the uteruses are not well developed and they might get complications at delivery,” said Ms Salima.

She also said the majority of Caesarean operations are performed on young girls.

A Health ministry officer, Mr Dixon Osilli said a campaign to curb early pregnancies has been launched.

He said the ministry was holding seminars to educate the public about the dangers of bearing children at a tender age.